New era for youngsters

HALEBANK residents who fought an 18-month campaign demanding better youth facilities in their area are over the moon after hearing they are in line for a massive cash injection, to be distributed over the next three years.

HALEBANK residents who fought an 18-month campaign demanding better youth facilities in their area are over the moon after hearing they are in line for a massive cash injection, to be distributed over the next three years.

While staff of voluntary group The Kings Cross Project are staying tight-lipped about how many thousands of pounds are involved, residents feel they are on the edge of a 'new era' for young people.

Many Halebankers believe they were dealt a raw deal when neighbouring Ditton qualified for inclusion in the Governmentrun Sure Start scheme, claiming their village missed out on crucial help because there were too few children.

But Bernard Allen, of the Friends of Halebank, said the future started looking brighter when the residents group held meetings with Kings Cross officials determined to secure grants for the area.

The group is delighted a combination of projects from the Kings Cross Project and Halton Borough Council will cover every age group apart from toddlers, who it hopes to address shortly.

The cash, from the BBC's Children in Need charity, will be used by Kings Cross to pay the wages of a permanent part-time youth worker and the remainder will be poured into educational and leisure projects for 13 to 19-year-olds.

Meanwhile, the council has launched projects including Summer Splash for 11 to 15-year-olds and Active8 for junior children. It now plans to refurbish the youth club in Baguley Avenue.

In September residents will meet youth workers to decide how the rest of the cash should be used.

Mr Allen thanked Kings Cross and Halton council and said the projects would never have come about without the dedication of residents such as Teresa Hornby, Flo Woodward and Kim Longmire.

He said: 'Until now we have had absolutely nothing at all for the young people in this area, but this substantial sum of money has opened new doors for Halebank.'